Posted on 10/29/2008 12:15:12 PM PDT by pabianice
First hearing set for Nov. 6
WORCESTER, MA — Several city councilors last night hailed a proposed ordinance regulating knife possession in the city.
Some councilors said the ordinance is an important first step in addressing the recent spate of knife attacks in the city, saying something is needed to curb the use of knives in assaults.
The proposed ordinance was advanced last night by the City Council, which referred it to the council’s Public Safety Committee for a hearing tentatively scheduled for Nov. 6.
District 3 Councilor Paul P. Clancy Jr. said the ordinance should be viewed as an extension of the zero-tolerance policy that the public schools have in regard to weapons possession.
“We have a zero tolerance for these weapons in our schools and now we need to extend it out into the community,” Mr. Clancy said. “This is an ordinance the council needs to pass. It will make it a safer community for all.”
Under the ordinance, developed by the Police Department, Worcester district attorney’s office and city officials, any knife with a blade larger than 1.5 inches would be illegal to carry; people caught with such knives in their possession would be fined $300, as permitted by state law.
While some councilors were concerned about the impact of the ordinance might have on those who carry such knives for personal use or recreation, District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. assured the councilors it would be targeted primarily at the after-hours bar and nightclub crowds where there has been an outbreak of knife-related violence.
He emphasized that the police would have a lot of discretion in enforcing the law to assure that people aren’t wrongly caught up in its net.
“The mode of violence in this city has changed to knives,” Mr. Early told the City Council. “The mind-set is that you don’t need to carry a gun any longer because you can carry a knife and there is no penalty for it. That needs to change. We need to treat knife violence as serious as violence with guns because it is a more personal crime and sometimes can be more lethal.
“We are not looking to hurt those people who use knives for recreation, hobbies or hunting,” he added. “The police will have a lot of discretion. What we want to do, though, is plant the seed to change the mind-set that it’s OK to carry knives.”
When Councilor-at-Large Gary Rosen asked Mr. Early if he thinks the $300 fine will deter people from carrying knives, the district attorney responded that similar ordinances have worked effectively in other cities and towns. He added that the violation of the ordinance could become a criminal matter if the violator fails to pay the $300 fine.
District 4 Councilor Barbara G. Haller, chairwoman of the council’s Public Safety Committee, said her committee will hold a hearing on the ordinance Nov. 6, with the hope of getting it back to the entire council for its next meeting Nov. 10.
The surge in knife violence in Worcester began in 2006 when there were 85 stabbings. The number increased to 118 last year, and this year it is on pace for 148, or a 24.5 percent increase over last year.
Most of the stabbings have occurred between midnight and 5 a.m., especially after the bars and clubs close and at after-hour parties. Mr. Early said the problem has reached “epidemic proportions.”
In a related matter, the council asked the city manager, police chief and License Commission to consider adding a voluntary condition to alcohol licensing in the city that would allow clubs, bars and other liquor establishments to scan entering patrons with a magnetic wand in an effort to detect concealed knives and other weapons.
District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri, who co-sponsored the order with Mr. Clancy and Councilor-at-Large Joseph M. Petty, pointed out that the proposal is not groundbreaking because it is used at arenas and stadiums across the country and even at some local clubs and bars.
But with the dramatic increase in knife violence in the city, he said, it is something worth considering.
“We need to help protect the people who go into restaurants, nightclubs and other liquor establishments,” Mr. Palmieri said. “None of us has a quick answer to resolving (the knife violence), but this could be a step in the right direction. No one in a restaurant or nightclub should be carrying a weapon. We should look to put a workable plan in place.”
Maybe it’s time for the return of the Boston Strangler.
Typical D-cell batteries have no lead, just carbon sticks, electrolyte paste and zinc anodes (cathodes) wrapped in heavy paper mounted in a steel shell.
Knew a guy whose car stranded him one time and he dug out one of the sticks and whittled it down to replace the wornout button in his flathead six Plymouth distributor cap (1960).
The gun control wackos are becoming parodies of themselves.
Translation: We'll only be targeting them evil negros with this law. You folks in the 'burbs can go back to sleep.
Arbitrary enforcement of the law is an evil we can live without.
And actually the police have ZERO discretion about enforcing the law. Just ask one.
If they see a crime, they're duty bound to act. This city attorney is lying his ass off.
Color me shocked...
L
Just look like a loser and the cops will bust you, we know how the system works? If it appears as though it would take you all year to pay a $300.00 fine, your busted. Then you get extra time and troubles because your a poor unfortunate loser.
Life can really suck, if you don’t meet the discretionary look of a respectable citizen, even if your law abiding, you can now become an instant law breaker and end up as habitual criminal because you’ve carried a pocket knife all your life.
This law will bring the demise of the Great Swiss Army Knife manufacturer.
If they see a crime, they're duty bound to act. This city attorney is lying his ass off.
I don't see how that squares with the average traffic speed being speed-limit+10 on the highways around here. Cops use a fair bit of discretion in deciding what is and isn't over the line, especially on lesser offenses. And citizens know when they are crossing over into possible trouble areas too.
However, declaring at the outset that the law will only be enforced at the whim of the cops is way off base.
The 2nd amendment says 'arms' not 'firearms', this should be unconstitutional.
Try this on for size:
"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one ‘makes’ them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted -- and you create a nation of law-breakers-and then you cash in on the guilt."
How's that fit?
L
Absolutely. This is an insane law.
Fit what?
The reality is that cops do exercise discretion, your zero discretion comment was just wrong as a blanket statement.
Do I prefer that laws be real clear? sure, but that's just not the case when they use terms like 'brandishing' or 'menacing' in the description of the law. These terms always leave some room for discretion on the part of the cop, and yet discretion on the part of the prosecutor.
"No discretion" == "zero tolerance", which usually leads to a lot of stupidity. Some discretion is required. We can argue about how much, but either extreme brings trouble.
Writing the law to criminalize normal behavior is what's wrong here.
I guess my every day carry ( 5 inch cold steel) would get me in trouble. :)
It is the result of false leftist assumptions. They will not believe that it is the culture and character of the offenders that is the problem. They have defined those out of the equation.
Still, they have a problem. They have to blame it on something, and do something. So they blame it on inanimate objects and take away everyone’s freedom.
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